Uncoiling and recoiling toy



1967 M. D. SMOLENSKY 3,

UNCOILING AND RECOILING TOY Filed Dec. 25, 1964 INVENTOR Moeraxv 0. Snow/van United States Patent 3,360,261 UNCOILING AND RECOILING TOY Morton D. Smolensky, Paul W. Wommack, 1300 Houston Club Bldg., Houston, Tex. 77002 Filed Dec. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 420,723 1 Claim. (Cl. 272-67) This invention relates to toys and more particularly to a type of toy having coils which may be actuated to extend the same by uncoiling movement and to retract the same by recoiling movement.

The invention has for an object the provision of an extensible and retractable toy that is made from one single piece of material secured together in the configuration herein described and illustrated by the drawing.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy of the extensible and retractable coil type that will last an indefinite length of time by reason of its unique construction.

Another object of this invention is to provide an extensible and retractable toy that can be mass produced in any desired color and in any desired size.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a toy having coils which are actuatable by uncoiling movement to extend the same and by recoiling movement to retract the same that is made entirely of a flexible metal band of material.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts of the several views.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the toy of the invention in a substantially fully extended position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of this invention in a partly extended position.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of this invention in substantially fully retracted position.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood, that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood, that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation.

In the drawing, an illustrative embodiment is shown ice comprising a thin strip of flat metal 5 turned up edgeways and having one end formed into the hoop 6 that is secured in place by the rivet 7. The same piece of flat metal 5 is further formed into a large V-shaped portion 8 having a rounded apex 9 and (this portion can be called a handle) continuing on to form the second hoop 10. The two hoops 6 and 10 of course form two separate coils, when the toy is in its retracted condition. The second mentioned hoop is likewise secured together by the second rivet that is indicated by the reference number 11.

Because of the inherent character of the metal band, and the construction of the toy with the V-shaped connecting portion 8 having the apex 9, the hoops 6 and 10 will have an inherent tendency to roll up along the connecting portion of the band to form coils which are in peripheral contact.

To operate this new and novel coiling and uncoiling toy, all one has to do is to take the toy in one hand with the thumb at 12 and the second finger pressing against the point 13. By exerting and releasing pressure at the coils formed by the aforesaid points 12 and 13, the aforesaid hoops 6 and 10 are alternately uncoiled to extend the same outward and rolled up to recoil the same, thereby, giving one the impression that the individual holding the device is extending and retracting the device. The outward motion may very well be in any desired direction, that is, upward, horizontal or downward.

Having now fully described my invention, what I now claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A single elongated strip of flexible metal, said strip including a central connecting means arranged in a generally V-shape and closed hoops formed at the free ends of the arms of the V, said hoops being in the same plane, said strip including self retracting coil means normally coiled around said hoops and held in yielding abutment by said connecting means, said coil means being adapted to be unrolled to extended positions with said hoops in peripheral contact by flexing of the arms of said connecting means toward each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 903,587 11/1908 Leon 267-1 1,026,215 5/1912 Korth 27268 2,679,147 5/ 1954 Heinz 635 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, F. BARRY SHAY, Examiners.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

